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The best cities in the world for foreigners to live in, Lisbon leads in Europe

2026-05-22 07:34:00, Lifestyle CNA

As more and more people move abroad for work, lifestyle and more flexibility, a new global ranking has revealed the best cities where expats can actually live with a high quality of life.

The study takes into account factors such as healthcare, security, economic affordability and ease of integration, with Europe dominating the top spots.

As many people are abandoning the idea of ??a traditional home to build a life in another country, this new global ranking highlights the most expat-friendly cities.

The list is not based solely on tourist attractions or low taxes, but on the elements that really matter when moving to a new country: the healthcare system, safety, cost of living, social life, and even the strength of the passport.

According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, today more than 300 million people live outside the country of their birth — almost double the number in 1990.

After the pandemic, there has been a significant increase in remote workers and digital nomads, who have joined the crowds of retirees and people who need to relocate for work reasons.

Now, Global Citizen Solutions, a residency and citizenship planning consultancy, has published its first list of “The World’s Most Liveable Cities for Foreigners,” ranking 35 cities across six continents as destinations for the ever-growing population of internationally mobile residents.

The company's Global Intelligence Unit went deeper than measuring traditional urban performance indicators, evaluating cities according to seven separate indicators.

These were: cost of living, safety, air quality, healthcare, ease of adaptation, knowledge of English, and expanded mobility — that is, the power of the passport and the freedom to travel without visas.

The unit relied on public data and ranked each city on a scale from 0 to 100, with each category given its own specific weight. Safety and healthcare had the highest combined weight, reflecting their importance in long-term relocation decisions.

In the end, Lisbon topped the list, closely followed by Amsterdam. In total, the top ten includes five European cities.

The 10 best cities to live in for foreigners

Lisbon, Portugal: 88.49 / 100
Amsterdam, Netherlands: 81.97
Melbourne, Australia: 81.79
Vienna, Austria: 81.07
Barcelona, ??Spain: 80.70
Singapore: 80.58
Auckland, New Zealand: 80.15
Tokyo, Japan: 79.78
Copenhagen, Denmark: 79.57
Seoul, South Korea: 78.89

Lisbon

The Portuguese capital took first place because it showed consistent performance across all indicators, rather than dominance in just one category.

It is among the most economically affordable cities in the index, scoring better in the cost of living category than cities like Vienna, Amsterdam and Copenhagen.

Knowledge of English is also high, as is the air quality and safety level, which exceed those of many other European cities.

Another advantage of Lisbon over other centers on the continent is the existence of several legal pathways to obtain residency, including residency through investment and visas for digital nomads, which makes it ideal for foreigners.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam secured second place in the index thanks to good results in all categories.

The Dutch capital offers high security, quality healthcare, and clean air, in addition to ease of access for international residents.

It resulted in the highest level of English proficiency among the European cities included in the index, while language barriers in everyday life and administrative procedures are often fewer.

Known for its car-free streets, where walking, cycling and public transport accounted for more than 70% of trips between 2015 and 2022, Amsterdam is a good choice for foreigners seeking a car-free life.

However, the cost of living is where Amsterdam struggles the most. The city is among the most expensive in the ranking, meaning that not every foreigner can afford to make it their home.

While the score for ease of adaptation also shows that social integration can take time, Amsterdam offers a stable and balanced living environment — for those who can afford it.

Melbourne, Australia

As the only non-European city in the top five, Melbourne achieved strong results in several categories.

It has the highest level of English proficiency in the entire ranking, alongside Singapore, Auckland and Vancouver, and is one of the cleanest cities on the list.

The Australian city also offers quality healthcare, stable governance, and well-developed urban systems. In practice, these factors translate into a good standard of living, with Melbourne remaining a particular favorite for expats moving from other English-speaking countries.

It suffered a slight drop in the safety category, where its score is relatively lower than that of European cities. This is the main weakness in an otherwise well-balanced profile./ Euronews